Living With Christ Ahead

Living With Christ Ahead of You Text: Daniel 11:32

Believers get into spiritual trouble when they neglect their covenant with Christ. When they just go through life without, one day they wake up empty.

NKJ Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

NLT He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.

It all begins with compromise, here, some Jews, were enticed by flattery, and sided with Antiochus (an enemy of Israel) and they were corrupted. His soldiers desecrated Israel’s holy temple, banned circumcision and daily sacrifices. The Syrians sacrificed a pig in the Jewish altars, and even built and worshipped the god Zeus inside the temple. The believing Jews called this, “the abomination of desolation.”

However, Daniel and Jesus said, this atrocity was only a preview of the abomination that will happen later under the final Antichrist. (Dan.9:27, Matt. 24:15)

Paul saw this in II Thessalonians 2:3-4NKJ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

And then John writes in Revelation 13:14-15NLT And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. 15 He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die.

Those who belittle their covenant with Christ, and accept flattery (thinking their something) are called compromiser. Craig Groeschel author of, The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist. Say’s, Living wickedly against the covenant means, believing, but not adhering. Believing, but never acknowledging. Believing, but not practicing. Believing with little,or no fruit.

Daniel 11:32...those who violated the covenant...

>You violate His covenant by not believing He’s enough! He’s Master, He’s Lord, He’s in control, He’s everything.

Here’s a good example of some Christian Atheist. Jesus said in Revelation 3:14-18 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Notice Daniel 11:32NLT He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant.

Those, who really don’t trust are called, violators. Flattery is very appealing, it sounds becoming, uplifting, it gives you a boost to your ego, it can motivate you to change; and It can bring a new desire within.

Flattery is used in business, politics, relationships, and in almost all setting.

Flattery is driven by wrong motives. Here’s some reasons for flattery: 1. Change plans. 2. Change mindset. 3. Change opinion. 4. To receive compensation, 5. To add or remove friendships etc.

Isn’t it something, that the devil (the antichrist) will use flattery. He will win those over who chose to live outside the covenant.

Here’s some good questions to ask yourself: 1. How well do you know the person with the compliment? 2. Are they faithful in church attendance? 3. What could they gain?

Daniel 11:32...but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

So in Daniel’s day, what happened to those who knew their God? How did they carry out great exploits?

These Jews were killed for their firm convictions; suffering death rather than compromising. (They died in faith, and awoke in heaven!)

However, remember, when the final great abomination of desolation occurs, those who are faithful to His covenant, and those who won’t fall to satan’s flattery will be called home!